EDSG Takes Campaign Of 2026 Back to Farm Initiative to Edo North

The Edo State government has taken the 2026 campaign of back to farm initiative to Edo North Senatorial Districts in its renewed commitment to grassroots agricultural transformation across the State.

The tour which covered key agrarian corridors in Edo North saw the team visiting Akoko-Edo, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Owan East, and Owan West local government area of the State which is widely regarded as critical to the State’s food production value chain.

This strategic field engagement is designed to interface directly with genuine farmers, conduct comprehensive farmer profiling, and deepen inclusion within government driven agricultural programs.

The tour is also to serve as a platform to communicate the policy direction of governor Monday Okpebholo, while harvesting firsthand data on farmers’ realities to drive practical, data backed interventions.

Addressing stakeholders at various council headquarters in Igarra, Sabongida-Ora, Afuze, Agenebode, Fugar, and Auchi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Dr. Jerry Uwangue, emphasized a paradigm shift in the sector.

He reiterated that the present administration is dismantling the era of “political farmers” and prioritizing authentic producers who form the backbone of food security in Edo State.

Furthermore, the Commissioner urged farmers to key into the ongoing profiling exercise and embrace the cluster farming model, an integrated system designed to boost productivity and economies of scale.

Under this initiative, the government will facilitate land clearing, structured allocation of farmlands, provision of inputs and mechanization services, irrigation support, and the establishment of security architecture to safeguard both farmers and Agric investments.

“We urge farmers to key into the ongoing profiling exercise and embrace the cluster farming model, an integrated system designed to boost productivity and economies of scale.

“Under this initiative, the government will facilitate land clearing, structured allocation of farmlands, provision of inputs and mechanisation services, irrigation support, and the establishment of security architecture to safeguard both farmers and agricultural investments.”

The functioning Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bamiyi Osedebamen, reinforced the importance of registration, encouraging farmers to mobilize others within their communities to participate actively. She cautioned against any form of financial exploitation, stressing that the profiling process remains entirely free and government driven.

Technical insights were also delivered by the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Ogunbor David, and the Programme Manager of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr. Princewill Igbinedion, alongside other key officials of the Ministry.

In an interactive session, farmers expressed appreciation for previous government interventions while drawing attention to persistent challenges such as poor market pricing, insecurity, and limited access to inputs.

Farmers described the engagement as unprecedented, stating that it was the first time they were witnessing a Commissioner visit farmers across every local government, engage them directly, and take deliberate steps to ensure that interventions reach real farmers rather than being hijacked by politically connected individuals or opportunistic middlemen.

“This engagement is unprecedented. It is the first time we are seeing a Commissioner visit farmers across every local government, engage us directly, and ensure that interventions reach real farmers instead of being hijacked by politically connected individuals or middlemen.”

Dr Uwangue also disclosed ongoing plans to establish modern storage and aggregation facilities across the three senatorial districts, aimed at reducing post harvest losses and stabilizing market prices. He further revealed that strategic partnerships with verified Off-Takers are underway to guarantee structured market access, ensuring that farmers receive fair value for their produce.

“Plans are ongoing to establish modern storage and aggregation facilities across the three senatorial districts to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise market prices.”

According to him, the farmer profiling initiative will serve as the foundation for aligning production with demand, strengthening value chains, and delivering targeted interventions that will reposition Edo State as a leading hub for sustainable agricultural productivity.